Deland McCullough Headed to the Las Vegas Raiders

Notre Dame and Marcus Freeman will be in the market for a new running back coach as Deland McCullough has accepted the same position with the Las Vegas Raiders, per a source. 

McCullough had been at Notre Dame since 2022 when Freeman took over as head coach and was promoted to run game coordinator in 2023. 

The move itself isn’t a huge surprise. McCullough, one of the best running back coaches in the nation at any level, has had serious NFL interest since he returned to the college game in 2021.

Notre Dame’s running backs have thrived under McCullough as Audric Estimè finished with 1,341 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2023, while Jeremiyah Love developed into one of the nation’s most explosive players at any position in 2024, running for 1,125 yards and 17 scores. 

McCullough also developed depth at Notre Dame as Jadarian Price has totaled 1,018 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns over the last two seasons. In 2022, Notre Dame was on the verge of two 1,000-yard backs as Estimè finished with 920 yards and Logan Diggs tallied 820 yards. 

A source told ISD that McCullough likely wasn’t taking another NFL job unless Andy Reid or Pete Carroll called. Las Vegas hired Carroll at the end of January and the move will likely help McCullough’s ultimate goal of becoming a college head coach. 

McCullough was tied to the Ball State and Ohio head coaching jobs this offseason. 

Freeman will now search for a running back coach, which shouldn’t have a lack of candidates as Notre Dame has likely the nation's deepest and most talented room. 

The McCullough File
2010: Miami (Ohio) Offense and Special Teams Intern/Running Backs
2011-16: Indiana Running Backs
2017: USC Run Game Coordinator/Running Backs
2018-20: Kansas City Chiefs Running Backs
2021: Indiana Associate Head Coach/Running Backs
2022: Notre Dame Running Backs
2023-2024: Notre Dame Running Backs/Run Game Coordinator

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